Control system



CONTROL SYSTEM Filed oct. 25, 1935 s sheets-sheet 1 mmm IIIII in Ir @HHH N l1 h lll/lm l l Q '4` N L S m l n N u l sl N//l//A In V ;JI

ml-n l g. N Q k YH u 0) WITNESSES: INVENTOR gn! Herbert A. Rose,

,tm/@ SYM/am ATTORNEY sept. 2o, 1938. H- A ROSE '2,130,902

CONTROL SYSTEM Filed Oct. 23, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 WITNESSES:

INVENTOR V s f77. 2. Herbert f4. Rose. J, ,f/Zf MMM ATTORNEY Sept. 20, 1938. H. A. ROSE 2,130,902

CONTROL SYSTEM Filed Oct. 23, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fig. 3.

/node Valfage.

Zero D. C. Va/ae.

Maximum D.,C.

e-alive 7ansformer Volae.

zal Current.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR q/W u l Herbert LRose.

- WMM/Www ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 20, 1938 i GFF I C E" CONTROL SYSTEM"` Herbert' A. '1- Rose, Pittsburgh? Pai; yassigner '-'to' Westinghouse :Electrlc' & ManufaeturingUCom-if r panyy East. Pittsburgh, Pai; a corporation of Pennsylvania Appli-cation octoberza;1935;!semina-46,3322;

" 11 Claim-s (Claris-amic My inventionv relates` Ito" a 'vapor-electric','con-4 verter 'and particularly', to 'a 'control '.system'for a 'converter having makeealive' type' excitation."

converter.

instant of application of make-alive potential Hto' the ,make-alive electrodes' associated' '.with'th'e individualv Valves of the converter.

'In' 'the converter 'according to' my invention,v l each of the individual valves'of the 'converteris i provided Withja suitable make-alive electrode,

l5 that is, anrelectroder of high resistance or'semi'-v conducting'material; placed in permanent'con; tactwith the cathode of 'a valve'and adaptedg". on passage' 'of suitable` current' therethrough; to`

create aeath'ode spotin the. valve.' Afsuitable 'Y actuating transformer I isprovided forv supplying mak hecurrentlflow from'the actuating trans' trodes.

vwhen uuhzing make-ahve type excitation,f it'` isrdesirable to reduce, as f ar as possible,4 the "1heating effects of the make-'alive 'current' in "the make-alive electrodes. Accordingly, I have pro'- vide'd means' for adjusting' the phase relationof both the actuating transformer "and la 'control potential for the' auxiliary` vcontrolvalves, so` that `fcurrent isperrnittedto flow to the make-alive electrodes only: forV the necessaryinterval to' create' vthe desired .cathode spots.,A I have found that intheutilization of make-alive electrodes, it

is vdesirable to have'the make-alive current rise` to Oia 4"suitable value in. a' short interval of time; in' order toA lprecisely control the instant of' forma' tion vof the cathode spot. In the preferred em bodrnent of my invention the control systemis Uso arranged that a substantial portion'of'i'the'r iactuat`i`ng transformer voltage is suddenly' applied to `the'fmake-aliv'e electrode and the phase'relathe mainvalve. Accordingly', I have provided my actuating transformer'with suitable means, 'such'- Aas condensate, connected' 'in ,parallelI withthe'" phase tvindings'of the'secondary'of theV actua/ir#K -Y the infakealivev electrodes. is preferably."

i d'"Ioy'nieans"of'suitalole'auxiliary'fvalves 1' 253 connected lin series with thev .terminals of 'the' ac` tuating "transformer andthe makefalive 'e1ec" ing' transformer, *which neutralizes` substantially i the` 'resistance*dropI` through"`the transformer Winding 'at-the' 'begi-xriingpf` current 'flow' to the makeealive' 'electrodes'.

Fr"simpli'city"of 'illustration' I have shown 'a 5 f transformer iproducing' 'substantially "sine wave forms of'potential: however, it' is' obvious that asv I desirerapidlyrising land decaying current impulses,"my transfomers'may 'be'designed to pro"- d'uce'otlir than sine' waveforms such` as peaked 10" Wave" forms;

Other4 objects" and 'advantages'of rnyinvention' will be" apparentfromithe' following' ldetailed de"' scriptinftaken` in" conjunction'with the 'accom'' panyingdrawingsfin which: 15'- Figure'l is'a 'schematicillustration'of a 'con'-L version 'system 'embodying my invention; v

Fi'g is'a diagramina'tie1 illustration of the current' and voltage'values'in the converter and the attnd'ant'eontrol equipment'and" 20 -alive potential to the make-alive'electrodes Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic;illustrationof Va furth'er methodI of 'controlling the instant'of ignition of the' individual Avalvesof` a converter;

The illustrative"embodiment of my invention as"discl0sed"inFig;;"1 comprises 'an alternating- 25- current'eircuit I of'anysuitablefphase arrange'- directecurrent circuitsI and '2 'are `connected by,30'

means ofa "suitableitransformer, herein 4illustratedas a"double"three=phase"transformer 3,

andth'e flow'iof 'current' 'between'thev circuits I and 2 is regulated' by'a -converter 4 having makealive' type control for'tlie valves 510i' the' con- 35 verter' 4f The 'control 'comprises `'a `make-alive electrode I0' of semieconducting. or high' 'resistance material` in contact With'the cathode`6 "of each valve 5.

Eachpff. the make-alive .electrodes ,I0 'of a coni04 ablelwinding I 851s connected fbetween'the sourcei '50. A

I oir-actuating potential and theactuatingtransformer.: I57,sof-th'at,the phasefrelationf-of the -actuating--transformer I5 may-be-adjuste'd at will; withrespecttoy lthephas'e relation 'of the source ofactuating potential Ifor the-phase relation -of 55 "the actuating.'V transformen I5. i

transformer '25 Ais provided with suitablerphase-l shift for vadjusting'. the phase' relation of the',

the

main transformerfv connected for do'ublle"y three phase operation and I have shown the actuating transformer I5 as six-phase diametrical as the'.

most convenient and economical connection for securing the benefits of my invention.

It is desirable to have themaleealiverelec-.g trodes I carry current for relatively short time Y intervals, usually considerably shorter than thev conducting intervals of the associated main Valve 5. Several features of myinventionarecov` ordinated to secure this desired-characteristic,

first the cathodes 6 of the main valves '5`are1connected to the neutral point of the Iactuating transf,

former I by a relatively lowfimpedance con-Iy nection I9 so that the severalfphasefwindings of l theactuating transformer' I5 act substantially" independently of each other;V second, suitable auxiliary valves ZU'areprovided toprevent. in- Verse current flow in the makefalive electrodes Iii v'ar rd`11ally, the auxiliary vvalvesZIlY are pro'- vided with" control electrodesfsuch as grids y2|` f to further limit the conducting interval to, a predeterminedv portion of 'the positive impulse of the actuating transformer I5. AI, have' therefore connected between each ofthe phase terminals of the actuating' transformer I5 and the make-alive valve 2B, preferably of lthe'h'ot-cathode grid-controlled typefEachefthe lcathooles :22 of the auxiliary valves 2l) is'l provided' with an individual heating`transforrner,23,v Vall'o'f which may, if de-r sired, be combined .ina single'` transformerl 24, I

as indicated in the 'iuustrauon e Y vThe control grids 22|l of the auxiliary valves 20 areprovided vwith control potential from :aY lsuitablevfcontrol. transformer- 25 which lisl preferably" supplied with potential from'thesa'me source as potential appliedl tofthegridslZI of the auxiliary the actuating transformer" I5. able phase-shiftingdevice may be used, I prefer to use an inductionphaseshifterl having aV stationary winding and a rotatable secondary windv ingfffIf desired, the rotatablefwi'nd'ing and the, "transformer windings may be combined in'af single device25 as shown, or if desired, thetrans'- former 25and the phase-.shifting devices` may be for' the actuating `trans` l sequently, the terminal voltage of the converter separate, as indicated former' circuits.

, phase'of the actuating tran'sforr'ner '15," in order the phase relations ofv .the .actuating transformer I5 andthe control transformer-25 adjustable by a common means ,30, so that after the durationk y d Y c ment of the phaseY relation of both the control of the` conducting interval has. been ,i established, the phasev -relation of thez entire controlsystem maybe shifted at will, With respectr tothe phase of the potentials supplied to the'rmain valves 5 f Y e loadcurrentof the converterrmay cease to flow i prior vothe beginning of now of current in the 75 ofthe vconverter 4, inzcorder'tocontrol the output termbase-gri.Current .0f the. @weer ,I4-n This;

electrode I El actuated thereby, a suitable auxiliaryy The control c tubes 210 vwith res'pectto' the outputV potential of While any suit-' The phase relation of the"controltransforme'n 25is preferably"adjustablewith relation to thel simultaneous adjustment may be secured by providing a common connection 30 for the rotors of the phase adjusting mechanisms of the actuating transformer I5 and of the control transformer 25, or as indicated by the broken line connections 35, the control transformer 25 may be connected in parallel with the actuating transformer I5 so that the phase relation of both may be simultaneously f adjusted by the induction regulator devic-e I6. v

1- :It is desirable to have the actuating current forthe. make-alive electrodes l0 rise above the critical current, that is, the current necessary `to lcreate .thecathode spot, in a relatively short time interval; However, the flow of current throughthe impedance of the secondary windings of the actuating transformer I5 tends to reduce the terminal voltage of the transformer I5, so that the current to the make-alive electrodesf'lll builds up relatively slowly. In order tow counteract this reactance characteristic of the actuating` Vtransformer I5, I have provided capacitors'l connected in parallel with the phase windings of the actuating transformer I5 which substantially neutralizes thereactance effect of the'windings and 'permits the actuating current to rise rapidly.V ForY ease in tracing the connections the'fphaselterminals and their associated equipment have-been lettered a to f.

lThe control characteristics of my invention may`v best be understood with reference to the diagrammatic current and voltage illustrations of v FigLZ, 'the curve 40 of which shows the potentials appliedto the valves 5 of the converter 4. The valve current'for each valve of the converter is indicated' at 4|,and the commutation interval between thevalves is indicated at 42. In order tofsecu're' the commutation at the desired instant,"it' is necessary to produce a make-alive current43 risingab'ove the critical current 44 at the instant 'commutation is desired. In order to securethis the phase ofthe potentials 45`of the actuating" transformer I5 is shifted to the desir edg'po'i'ntQ`v v.Usually the make-alive current 43 isgrefol'uiredl to flowonly for a sufficient interval to,A create thev desired cathodel spot. Consequently, the phase relation of the control transformer 25 is. adjustedso that after the current 4-3 starts tono-w, only a relatively short conducting period will result before the reversal of the terminal potential'of the actuating transformer I5. The

. actual length of the conducting period is determined by the control transformer 25' which has its phase relation shifted with respect to the phasevoltages 45 ofthe actuating transformer I5, so thatthe control potential 4I'will rise above the critical'potentialll of the control or auxiliaryvalves at the-de`sired time instant.

.Obviouslythe timeY of commutation, and con- 4, 'Ama'ybjbe lvaried at will by shifting the time of application ofthe'make-alive vcurrent 4 to the makealive electrodes, which may be done by shiftinggthe phase relation of Veither the actuating transformer I5 or thecontrol transformer 25.

I'preferfto yadjust the control transformer 25 to determine the time duration of ow of makealive current ,43, and to adjust the terminal voltageof the converter 4 by simultaneous adjustand actuating transformers I5 and-25.

lAi'. very low ycurrents on the converter 4, ar conditionof instability'may occur Vso that the succeeding valve, tha-tis, vbefore Ythe commutation period normally would occur.v This would result in .termination of rcurrent flow and-.inactivity vof the converter. To prevent suchan occurrence 'at-lightload, I'may adjust the'phase relation of the 'actuating transformer `I5 so that positive potential'can be appliedto the make-alive electrode .1.0 throughoutthe conducting period ofthe converter valve 5 'and yat the `same time shift the phase .relation of thexcontrol transformer `to control the duration of current flow,.so `that thecurrent 43 flows throughfthe make-alive felec'- `trode AIl), throughout,.substantiallygthe entire conducting period of the make-.alive val-ve 5.

lAs pointed lout above thev output voltageof the converter a4 may be varied either by shiftingfthe `phase relation of the actuating transformer 'l5 and thecontroljtransformer, V25 or by shifting the phase relation of the control transformer 25 alone. r1- Y InFig. 3 I have shown a ,particular application which is sometimes desirable for rapid variation 'of the terminal voltage of the converter il.` This 'figure shows fonly a single commuting point for the anode potential 40 and the actuating transformer l5 is adjusted bythe phase shifter I6 so that lthe make-alive transformer voltage 45 can lsupply make-alive rcurrent from'the zero delay fp'oint to the maximum delay point, that'is, the lvariation from maximum direct current voltage to zero direct current voltage, as shown on the diagram, the actual duration of flow of 'makealive'current or crystal current is then controlled by-phase shifter 25 and can beany value yfrom that shown yby curve 43 to that shown by curve 43'. When vzero directcurrent voltage is required, the phase shifter 25is adjusted to release Agrids 2l of auxiliary tubes 20 at the point rindicated bythey beginning of curve 43 andcurrent `will flow in the crystal `*I0 as Vindicated by the -diagonalhatchingunder the voltage curve 45, the hatched areadenoting the energy supplied `to the `make-alive electrode. Then, ifv it isV desired to :increase the direct current voltage, the phase shifter =25isadjustedto release grids 2| of auxiliary-tubes 20 at an earlier time,the earliesteffec- ,tive timejbeingat maximum directcurrent poten- .tial or zero delay asindicated by the beginning of curve-43. The crystal current, of course, flows -for amuchlonger period-consuming energy as indicated -by the horizontal hatching under cur-veg45.k

-While for purposes vof illustration I have described -aspecific embodiment of my invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art thatrrmany changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the true spirit of my invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. An electrical conversion system comprising a polyphase alternating-current circuit, a directcurrent circuit, a converter having a plurality of make-alive type valves for transferring energy between said circuits, a make-alive electrode for each of said valves, a source of actuating potential, an actuating transformer for supplying current from said source to said electrodes, control Valves connected in series with said make-alive electrodes and said actuating transformer, control electrodes in each of said control valves, a control transformer for supplying potential to phase of the control potential and means for adjusting the phase relation of the actuating transformer potentials.

2. An electrical conversion system comprising a polyphase alternating-current circuit, a directcurrent circuit, a converter having a plurality. of make-alive type valves for transferring energy betweensaid circuits, a make-alive electrode for each of said valves, a source of actuating potential, an actuating transformer for supplying current from said source to said electrodes, control valves connected in circuit with said make-alive electrodes and said actuating transformer, control electrodes in each of said control valves, a control transformer for supplying potential to said control electrodes, means for simultaneously adjusting the phase relation of the actuating transformer and the control transformer, and means for independently adjusting the phase angle of the control transformer for controlling the starting time and the duration of current flow to the make-alive electrode.

3. An electric conversion system comprising an electric current supply circuit, an electric cur.- rent load circuit, a plurality of make-alive type valves for transferring energy between said lcir-- cuits, a make-alive electrode in each of said valves, a source of operating current for said make-alive electrodes, means for shifting .the phase-relation of the operating current supplied to the ymake-alive electrodes, an auxiliary valve in series with each of said make-alive electrodes and control electrodes for determining the .conducting period of said auxiliary valves.

4..A converter system comprising a vplurality of make-alive type valves, a make-alive 4electrode in each of said valves, an actuating transformer for supplying current to said make-'alive electrodes, a source of actuating current for said transformer, an induction phase shifter connected between said source and said transformer, connections from said actuating transformer to saidmake-alive electrodes, a gridcontrolled auxiliary valve in each of said connections, a grid supply transformer for supplying control potential to the grids of said auxiliary valves, phaseshifting means associated with said grid supply transformer, and means for adjusting the phase relation of the grid supply transformer .with respect to the phase relation of the actuating transformer whereby the duration of current ow from said actuating transformer to said electrodes is regulated.

. 5. A converter system comprising a plurality of Amake-'alive type valves, a make-alive electrode -in veach of said valves, an actuating transformer for supplying current to said make-alive electrodes,v.asource of actuating current for said transformer, an induction phase shifter connected between said source and said transformer, connections from said actuating transformer to said make-alive electrodes, a grid controlled auxiliary valve in each of said connections, a grid supply transformer for supplying control potential to the grids of said auxiliary valves, phase-shifting means associated with said grid supply transformer, means for adjusting the phase relation of the grid supply transformer with respect to the phase relation of the actuating transformer whereby the duration of current flow from said actuating transformer to said electrodes is regulated, and means for simultaneous adjustment of the phase relation of both said actuating transformer and said grid control transformer.

6. An electrical conversion system comprising a three-phase alternating-current circuit, a directcurrent circuit, a make-alive converter fortransferring energy between said circuits, a double three-phase transformer for connecting said circuits to said converter, a make-aliveielectrode for each valve of said converter, an actuating `transformer for supplying current to said make-alive electrodes, the secondary of said actuating transformer being connected for six phase operation, a source of three-phase potential connected to said actuatingtransformer, a rotary phase changer connected between said source and said actuating transformer, auxiliary valves connected between actuating transformer and said make-alive electrodes, Aa low impedance connection between the neutral point of said actuating transformer and the .cathode of said converter, control electrodes for said auxiliary valves, a control transformer for-.controlling said auxiliary valves, means for adjusting the phase relation of the control transformer. relative to the phase relation of the actuating transformer for determining the interval ofi'application of actuating current to the makealive electrodes, vand means forl operating the phase changer'forr determining the time of application of current tothe make-alive electrodes. 7. An electric conversion system comprising an electric supply circuit, an electric load circuit, a make-alive valve system for transferring energy between said systems, a transformer for connecting said circuits to said valves, a make-alive electrode'forfeach of the valves of said valve system, a source of actuating potential for said make-alive electrodes, an actuating transformer for supplying current from said source to said make-alive electrodes, auxiliary controlled Valves for controlling the flow ofr current from said actuating transformer to said electrodes, means for shifting the phase relation of the output voltage of said actuating transformer, and means for controlling said auxiliary valves to determine the time of current application to said make-alive electrodes.

84, An electric conversion system comprising an electric supply circuit, an electric load circuit, a make-alive valve system for transferring energy between said systems, a transformer for connecting said circuits to said valves, a make-alive electrode for each of the valves of said valve system, a source of` actuating potential for said makealive electrodes, an actuating transformer for supplying current from said source to said makealive electrodes, auxiliary controlled valves for controlling the flow of current from said actuating transformer to said electrodes, means for shifting the phase relation of the output voltage of said actuating transformer, meansr for controlling said auxiliary valves to determine the time of current application to said make-alive electrodes, and imeans associated with'said actuating transformer for neutralizing the initial reactive drop upon commencement of current ilow to said make-alive electrodes.

9. An. electrical conversion system comprising anvalt'ernating-current supply circuit, a directcurrent load circuit, a plurality of make-alive type valves for transferring energy betweensaid circuits, a make-alive electrode in each of .said valves, a source ofalternating actuating current for said make-alive electrodes, a phase changer for controlling the phase relation of the current derived from said source,'a control transformer energized from said source, said transformer having terminals connected to said make-alive electrodes,'current control means connected in series with each of said. make-alive electrodes, anda control device for controlling said current control means, f 10. An electrical conversion system for trans.- ferringenergy between a ydirect-current and van alternating-current circuit comprising a converter having a 'plurality of make-alivextype valves, a transformer device for connecting'said valves to said circuits, a make-alive electrode in each valve of said converter, a source of actuating current for said electrodes, i an actuating transformer interposed between said source and said electrodes, a phase shifting device for said actuating transformer, controlled auxiliary' valves for determining the flow of current from-said actuating transformer to Ysaid electrodes, a control transformerY for supplying control potential to said auxiliary valves, and phase shifting means associated with said control transformer.`

11. An electrical conversion system for transferring energy between a direct-current andan alternating-current circuit comprising a rconverter having a plurality of make-alivev type valves, a transformer device for connecting said valves to said circuits, a make-alive electrode in each Valve of said converter, a source of actuating current for said electrodes, an Aactuating transformer interposed between said source and said electrodes, a phase shifting deviceV for said actuating transformer, controlled auxiliary valves for determining the flow of current fromsaid actuating transformer to said electrodes, a control transformer for supplying control potential to said auxiliary valves, phase shifting means associated with said control transformer, and means associated with said actuating transformer for maintaining the-terminal voltage on commencement of Vcurrent now to said make-alive electrodes. v

HERBERT A. ROSE. 

